Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-15
THE LAWS ATOyEMENT.
Four Men Atone for the Murder of
Five Human Beings by Giving
Up Their Own Lives.
Three are White Men, John T. Echolss
James Lamb and Albert ODell, and
John Stephens, an Indian.
they Bear Up Manfully 20 the Last and
all Die Game-Three Profess Re
Iigion-Thoir Crimts.
A BLOODY RECORD.

FORT SMITH, ARK Jan. lt.-lne exc
cutiou of James Lamb, Albert O'Dell aud
John T. Echols, all white men, and John
Stephens, an Indian negro, took place
here at 80 to-day, and was conducted
IN the usual successful manner, the necks
of oil being broken. The condemned
slept well last night and
spent the forenoon in receiving callers
and discussing their impending doom
A nice dinner was provided for them
about IL a. m. of which all partook with
apparent relish, Lamb remarkirg that
ne did not want TO 90 of hungry OF
thirsty. The repast over, each lighted 8
cigar and appeared to enjoy the weed.
O'Den was remarkably cool and said
20 gentleman present that he fully
realized.
HIS AWFUL POSITION.
Ee knew he would be in his grave before
shutdown. He was prepared to meet his
fate like a man.
Echols was downhesrted and had moth
ing to say, preferriDg solitude in his last
hours.
Stephens stolcism, SO peculiar TO all
through whose veins runs the blood Of
the red man, was most marked. He de-
aied bis guilt to the last.
Lamb bore up msnfully until seated on
She gallows, when he shook like an aspen
leaf, but whether from cold or from ner-
vOusness one could not say.
Echols, O'Deii and Stephens were taken
TO the Catholic church yesterday sad bap-
tised in that faith. bu, Lamb declined to
receive religious instruction of any kind,
and went to the gallo VS. unattended by q
minister.
Lamb had asserted that O'Dell did not
lelp kill Pollard. II vas expected he
would make some statement on the gal
lows, but he said nothing more Liam was
developed at their trial.
Stephens merely requested Marshal
Carroll not TO allow the doctors to cut up
MS body.
Echois and O'Dell had nothing to say.
80 q. N. the four stepped firmly
IpOn the death leap beside the ugly look
ing nooses, when the arms and legs OF
zach were hastily pinioned, the ropes
adjusted, the black cap drawn, and in
smother Instant the huge trap fell with q
laundering sound and Sill was over. The
law bad been ca ried out and four men
had atoned for the lives of five human
beings, by giving up their own.
This makes twenty-five men who have
been hanged here in the past thirteen
years, while at least IS many more were
committed to life Imprisonment.
JOHN T. ECHOLS
was an intelligent man, who had borne &
q good character as peaceable, law
abiding citizen Up 10 the time of commit
ling the crime for which he to-day atoued
vita his life. From his general appear
ancC no one would for moment suspect
aim of being a murderer, and yet the
evidence in his case was such as to war
rant the jury in finding him guilty on the
first ballot. Theverdict condemntng him
% the gailOws was received on the 2lst
day of last August, after a
fair and impartial trial, in which he was
ably defended. The circumstances OF the
Killing, as related at the trial by two eye
witnesses, one of whom was the defend
ants brother-in-law, were substantially
as follows: The defendant lived near
White Bead Hill, Chickasaw nation, aud
in February last traded horse to John
Pettenridge, q neighboring farmer, for 8
pony, two yearlings and Winchester
rifle. The pony and gun were turned
over to him when the trade was consum-
mated, but the yearlings were on the
range and were to be gotten up by
Echols. One of them he failed
co fad, aud on the morning of February
IS, 1856, sent Pettenridge word that he
must get it up or he would take his horse
back. Pettenridge sent him word that
ne could not look for it that day, but
would hunt it as soon as he got time He
was engaged in hauling logs to build g
house, AMI during the day Echols went to
the woods where he was 1T work, accom-
panied by his brother-in-law. Petten-
ridge was on his wagon, preparatory to
starting home with load Of logs, when
Echols came up. A few hot words passed
between them concerning the trade, and
Pettenriige, who was uuarmed, made
move as if to get Of the wsgon, when
Echols shot al him, the bullet going
through the rim OF his hat. The team ran
away when the shooting commenced, Pet
tenridge jumping from the wagon as they
started, when Echols fired second shot,
and his victim fell MORALLY wounded,
aud the murderer fired three shots at him
while be lay helpless CT the ground,
pleading for mercy, one or two OF which
sook effect.
When placed on the stand to testify in
ais own behalf, Echols denounced the
evidence of the prost cutting wit
nesses as utterly false, saying
that both were on the ground
while quarreling and tbet Pettenridge
dew into a rage end drawing large
pocket knife started at him, when he shot
him in selt-defense, knowing him 10 be e
1anuerous man who had on more than
one OCCASION used his knife ON men with
fsta! results; that he fired five shots, all
of them in rapid succession, while Petteu
ridge was still on his feet, ard that he
did not shoot at him after be felS; mat ne
did not go 10 The woods TO sesE Feiten-
ridge. but YVES out horse hunting and by
accident passed that way. IL was proved,
however, by par:ics who first repaired 10